We all try to eat healthy at work by bringing our own lunches. But sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Case in point: 1. You come home late after a work happy hour and all you want to do is jump into bed. 2. You desperately needed that extra 20 minutes of sleep in the morning and now you are in a scramble just to get out the door. 3. You did pack a lunch (great!) but all of your co-workers are going out. A rush of FOMO (fear of missing out) over takes you and you end up tossing your ham & cheese. 4. It’s beautiful out. You have been staring out of your office window since getting in at 9. The clock strikes 12 and you want to escape. We have all been there. When you finally get that hour to yourself, where do you go? Sure you can go to Potbelly’s or Wendy’s (we do love a good frosty) right around the corner, but shouldn’t you try something a little different? (And to make your co-workers way jealous?) Here are our top picks for Lunching in the Loop.
1. Pret A Manger
With locations all around the loop there are really no excuses to try this London eatery. Pret creates handmade natural food avoiding 
the chemicals, additives and preservatives common to many of the “prepared” and “fast” foods on the market today. Grab a sandwich, wrap, salad, soup, oatmeal, fresh fruit, etc. to go or enjoy sit down. Favorites: Slim Cheddar, Avocado w/ Spinach and Kale Sandwich, Garden Vegetable Soup & Wild Salmon & Quiona Salad.
2. Hannah’s Bretzel
They are Uber Sandwich makers. There motto: “There are sandwiches. And there are Über sandwiches. There are pesticides and herbicides. And there is organic.
There is empty, artificial white “bread”. And there is whole grain, freshly baked bread. There is deli ham, and there is authentic Serrano ham from Spain’s finest producers. There is that white cheese they use at Subway. And there is fresh mozzarella and white truffled goat cheese. There is “mustard or mayo?” And there is “mango chutney or fig spread”. There is coffee. And there is organic, fair-trade coffee served with organic milk and organic sweeteners. There are toxic plastic cups and plates. And there are biodegradable, environmentally responsible ones. There are bored workers behind the counter. And there are Hannah’s sandwich makers. Knowledgeable. Educated. Helpful.” And just by looking at their menu and the photos, Hannah’s is our next stop! Favorites: Apple Thyme Brie Baguette (Pictured) & Sergio’s Special Wecken.
3. I Dream of Falafel
I dream, you dream, we all dream of Falafels! Well at I Dream of Falafel, they have created a unique concept of combining fresh, local
and healthy ingredients to prepare delicious Mediterranean dishes. Their food is prepared daily with the highest quality of fresh ingredients and is customizable to suit your dietary needs and taste buds. The menu has something for everyone (vegan, gluten-free, low-fat, low carb, high protein) and provides a variety of slow cooked meats and vegetarian selections with an impressive level of taste you’ll be for sure dreaming about!Favorites: All in Platter.
4. M Burger
Just craving a traditional burger with fries? For a couple years now, M Burger has operated a couple of establishments in River North,
but the Loop lunch crowd finally got the chance to call one their own with this location in the Thompson Center. The menu is the same, but it somehow tastes better when you don’t have to trek across the river to visit. Favorites: Nurse Betty and Hurt Burger.
5. Sopraffina Marketcaffe
Whether in the bustling metropolis of Milan or in the simplest hillside villages of